LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Lakers will never fade from the forefront of the NBA landscape, mostly because, even with Smush Parker playing point guard, they remain the Los Angeles Lakers. But not since the Shaq-Kobe era ended in a blaze of backdoo...

As one of the centerpieces of the Dallas Mavericks' first run to the NBA Finals, in 2006, Josh Howard couldn't help but feel a bit prideful as he watched the Mavs' march to the 2011 title. Even though he was a year-plus removed from the team with whi...